I used to do this every single day when I was still in the seminary. And it actually makes you feel relaxed and feel serene. Its a time when you can free yourself from anything about the world, the world of pain, hardships, problems, struggles etc. Its the best time to divert your mind, yourself to the the beauty of life, how great life is.

By logic, when you meditate you always inclined to go to the positive side of life instead of leaning to the negative, and in no time will make you insane. You are meditating, you are in solitude and you will think of negative things? you will get crazy.

Agreed! Most everyone is constantly rushing around - we all need to take time to be still in the body and mind and amazing things will happen. The benefits of meditation are so many and so far reaching that I wish it was something everyone would do.

..one of those things they should teach in school... along with money management LOL

Learning meditation and living in the moment completely changed my life. My mind used to tell me a lot of nasty things about myself. Now of course I realize that none of what it said was in any way true! I pretty much went from depression to joy, and I've never looked back. My mind is very quiet nowadays.

Shutting off the mind results in inner peace, calm and feelings of joy every time. Chris is right, it's virtually impossible to be negative when you meditate. It helps you focus too.

Meditation is the gateway to the soul. It provides the illuminated path of shifting from the ego self of the soul into spiritual oneness. It is the key to unlocking the ego self of the soul, shifting the energy of the ego self of the soul being one with our soul thereby bring spiritual oneness within us, within our soul. It is within meditation that we shift vibrationally to connect with Spirit. Meditation assists us with our spiritual journey to realize our life's purpose within this life experience. Benefits of meditation, though free from being sought in meditation, are indeed derived from meditation praxis. Some of them include being focused, centered, and grounded - especially amidst the appearance of the illusion called distractions, soul balance and harmony, a deep genuine feeling of calm and relaxation, a continuous state of absoulute love and well-being, a remembering of our connection with all, of all, for all, and in all that is, and an awareness of the one infinite moment.

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Meditation is the gateway to the soul. It provides the illuminated path of shifting from the ego self of the soul into spiritual oneness. It is the key to unlocking the ego self of the soul, shifting the energy of the ego self of the soul being one with our soul thereby bring spiritual oneness within us, within our soul. It is within meditation that we shift vibrationally to connect with Spirit. Meditation assists us with our spiritual journey to realize our life's purpose within this life experience. Benefits of meditation, though free from being sought in meditation, are indeed derived from meditation praxis. Some of them include being focused, centered, and grounded - especially amidst the appearance of the illusion called distractions, soul balance and harmony, a deep genuine feeling of calm and relaxation, a continuous state of absoulute love and well-being, a remembering of our connection with all, of all, for all, and in all that is, and an awareness of the one infinite moment.

I'm so pleased that there are like minded people out there who meditate.

I meditate for an hour every morning in our teepee which is in our garden. Man, it's so peaceful out. We live @ the foot of a mountain and there is a beautiful stream with salmon in it which runs at the bottom of our garden.

I find that meditation helps focus the mind. Keep me alert and ready for the day ahead.

wow. good for you to have such conducive environment for meditation. I believe that its also the environment that adds more depth/value to our meditation. The environment should by nature be positive and once we are in meditation, we more likely be more aware of our sorroundings, that leads us to appreciating it, and will end up in more harmony with it. Consequently, we will have more sense of positivism to face each day, or anything ahead of us.

I'm so pleased that there are like minded people out there who meditate.

I meditate for an hour every morning in our teepee which is in our garden. Man, it's so peaceful out. We live @ the foot of a mountain and there is a beautiful stream with salmon in it which runs at the bottom of our garden.

I find that meditation helps focus the mind. Keep me alert and ready for the day ahead.

You are so fortunate to have a great environment.Keep the good habit of meditation.

I meditate daily and I am becoming very proficient at it. I still find times when I lose focus but that will stop sometime. I love it!

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Bellamy

I meditate for an hour every morning in our teepee which is in our garden. Man, it's so peaceful out. We live @ the foot of a mountain and there is a beautiful stream with salmon in it which runs at the bottom of our garden.
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Wow, John. The description of your place is awesome. I just felt relaxed by reading about your mountain and your stream with salmon! Can I visit you someday when I go to The US? My wife would love it too!

Learning meditation and living in the moment completely changed my life. My mind used to tell me a lot of nasty things about myself. Now of course I realize that none of what it said was in any way true! I pretty much went from depression to joy, and I've never looked back. My mind is very quiet nowadays.

Shutting off the mind results in inner peace, calm and feelings of joy every time. Chris is right, it's virtually impossible to be negative when you meditate. It helps you focus too.

Amazing story, hope that inspires more people to try it for themselves. It CAN make such a huge difference!

"... something everyone should do"; perhaps. And certainly something that should be done every day, since the key to effective meditation is practice. As Vince Lombardi said, "Practice doesn't make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect." Anyone who knows meditation knows how difficult it is, especially at first.

"... something everyone should do"; perhaps. And certainly something that should be done every day, since the key to effective meditation is practice. As Vince Lombardi said, "Practice doesn't make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect." Anyone who knows meditation knows how difficult it is, especially at first.

There's no better way to meditate than sitting and chillaxing at the beach in front of your private beach house just staring at the horizon waiting for the sun to set simply enjoying the peaceful breeze.

But while this hasn't become a reality yet (since I can't find time to go to the beach anymore), I meditate just by staring at the ceiling while I lay on my bed, trying my best not to think of anything that troubles my mind. I'd free myself from all those thoughts, then I'd feel at peace with myself.

For decades meditation practice has been viewed with suspicion and often thrown into the same ‘esoteric’ pot as crystals, astrology and palm readings. However, the situation is changing fast as more and more people turn to meditation practice, looking for silence, inner peace and tranquility.
If you have never meditated, below are some convincing reasons, why you might want to reconsider and give it a try.
If you are practicing meditation regularly (or at least trying to), keep reading anyway to discover all the physiological, psychological and spiritual benefits that you get while meditating!
5 Amazing Benefits of Meditation:

1. Stronger, healthier heart.
Meditation is not just a practice to calm down our mind. It has numerous physical health benefits as well. Recent studies have found that meditation can protect us against heart disease and stroke (both leading causes of death in the world). Your heart can benefit from regular meditation in many different ways: it lowers blood pressure, improves blood circulation, and reduces cholesterol and atherosclerosis (the buildup of plaque in the arteries that can cause heart problems).

2. Slimmer, better looking body.
It sounds too good to be true, but, never-the-less, it is true – you can shed pounds without sweating in the gym!
It is not a secret that we gain a lot of extra calories due to our bad eating habits (like eating in a hurry or munching on something when we feel frustrated, sad or bored). Stress relief and relaxation provided by meditation promote more conscious eating helping us to eat healthier and, consequently, stay thinner.

3. Reversed biological Aging Process.
Biological age measures how old a person is physiologically, taking in consideration the functioning of the major organ systems. As it turns out, long-term meditators, who have been practicing meditation for more than five years are physiologically 12 years younger than their chronological age, while short-term meditators quickly reverse physiological signs of aging by 5 years! Try it for yourself and feel your body getting younger and healthier every day!

4. Reduced stress and anxiety.
Neurological studies of the brain show that meditation boosts the intensity of alpha waves – associated with quiet, receptive states that can not be achieved during sleep or other relaxation techniques. This relaxed state combats worry and stress by efficiently lowering “stress” hormones and shifting brain activity to the calmer left hemisphere.

5. Stronger immune system and improved mood.
It has been shown that meditation can help produce antibodies against illness as well as lift your spirits, when you feel frustrated or sad. But the most remarkable thing is that these positive biological effects can last up to four months after the end of meditation training. Which means that it is enough to meditate for a couple of weeks to stay healthy for months!

As for me, Meditation has always resulted in a calmer & stabler mind. Its also agreat tresss Buster. The best part is , however small it may be,Mediatiaon always helps in personal well being.

For decades meditation practice has been viewed with suspicion and often thrown into the same ‘esoteric’ pot as crystals, astrology and palm readings. However, the situation is changing fast as more and more people turn to meditation practice, looking for silence, inner peace and tranquility.
If you have never meditated, below are some convincing reasons, why you might want to reconsider and give it a try.
If you are practicing meditation regularly (or at least trying to), keep reading anyway to discover all the physiological, psychological and spiritual benefits that you get while meditating!
5 Amazing Benefits of Meditation:

1. Stronger, healthier heart.
Meditation is not just a practice to calm down our mind. It has numerous physical health benefits as well. Recent studies have found that meditation can protect us against heart disease and stroke (both leading causes of death in the world). Your heart can benefit from regular meditation in many different ways: it lowers blood pressure, improves blood circulation, and reduces cholesterol and atherosclerosis (the buildup of plaque in the arteries that can cause heart problems).

2. Slimmer, better looking body.
It sounds too good to be true, but, never-the-less, it is true – you can shed pounds without sweating in the gym!
It is not a secret that we gain a lot of extra calories due to our bad eating habits (like eating in a hurry or munching on something when we feel frustrated, sad or bored). Stress relief and relaxation provided by meditation promote more conscious eating helping us to eat healthier and, consequently, stay thinner.

3. Reversed biological Aging Process.
Biological age measures how old a person is physiologically, taking in consideration the functioning of the major organ systems. As it turns out, long-term meditators, who have been practicing meditation for more than five years are physiologically 12 years younger than their chronological age, while short-term meditators quickly reverse physiological signs of aging by 5 years! Try it for yourself and feel your body getting younger and healthier every day!

4. Reduced stress and anxiety.
Neurological studies of the brain show that meditation boosts the intensity of alpha waves – associated with quiet, receptive states that can not be achieved during sleep or other relaxation techniques. This relaxed state combats worry and stress by efficiently lowering “stress” hormones and shifting brain activity to the calmer left hemisphere.

5. Stronger immune system and improved mood.
It has been shown that meditation can help produce antibodies against illness as well as lift your spirits, when you feel frustrated or sad. But the most remarkable thing is that these positive biological effects can last up to four months after the end of meditation training. Which means that it is enough to meditate for a couple of weeks to stay healthy for months!

As for me, Meditation has always resulted in a calmer & stabler mind. Its also agreat tresss Buster. The best part is , however small it may be,Mediatiaon always helps in personal well being.

When I try an meditate I tend to relax to the point of falling asleep. Before that happens my mind is a racetrack of thoughts so I can only assume the purge is happening. I do need to be more consistent with it.

Yes, i also want to say something about meditation that Meditation is one of the five principles of yoga. It an important tool to achieve mental clarity and health. An overview of the different beginner and advanced meditation techniques will aid in choosing the right meditation exercise for anyone. I always do it in proper manner and see good result.

I would say the biggest impact that it had on me was more energy throughout day which I noticed becasue I didn't change else but implement it into to my days. I slept the same amount but I was more focused and energized.

to creative simple don't pressure your self this happens to i think even the gurus of mediation.according to my knowledge you should not worry and say to your self stuff like " ohhh no not again i lost focus when will this stop im no good etc...." but rather look at it as as no big deal and say to your self "well hey i lost focus that's cool but now im gonna get back to being focus"and again start focusing little by little you will loose focus less oftern

I agree with Asanga, the whole purpose is to let go and be an observer of our life. If we loose focus, so what? Go back on track, you loose focus again? No problem, it's rather normal after years of stress and bad conditioning. Just breathe!

I truely believe that meditation is one the best ways to get into a better vibration naturally. It may take some time, but after time, it doesn't really matter. I can't imagine a day without meditation. It's the same as I couldn't go with a day without brushing my teeth. It's a habit, it's enjoyable and it gives you so much piece inside. Just can't buy it. But need to experience it to truely understand it... I recommend it to anyone!

The benefits of practicing meditation are far reaching and not easily described in a short post.

Personally, I do so every day. Whenever I fall out of a certain 'forward' mentality I will break as soon as I can and meditate, even if it means doing so while standing on a subway or whatever the case may be.

It is a big part of my life. I recommend that others try it themselves over me explaining the benefits. The benefits will mean more this way.

Indeed meditation is very important in one's life. It is the key to life. Why? Because that is the moment you allow yourself to be in contact with the real you (your core being).

You are able to draw stuff from your sub- conscious where everything about you dwells. You are able to tap into the place where real guidance about yourself and life is. We are supposed to live our lives from the inside out instead of allowing the external environment to dictate to our lives. It is where the true knowledge is of what we have to do and what we should not.

Well try this. First tryout some Yoga warmups called postures, google it to learn more. Do an indian breathing excersise call pranayam before meditation. Then sit on lotus posture and concentrate on the centor of your eyebrows. Slowly breath during meditation, and try to focus and forget everything else. Do it for 10 min daily.

And try to take raw and organic diet.

Also try green tea without sugar atleast a cup a day.

I got this advice from Wayne Harrel, the zielix guy. He changed my working style. Go on try it. Move to the next level

I have been meditating for many years. I found stress management studies showing how the mind get more relaxed in 1 hour of meditation than in 8 hours of sleep. I find 20 minutes of meditation do the trick for me. I just follow my breath in and out with total focus until my mind goes still. No thoughts, just the sound of breath. It lets me reconnect with my spirit and regain my enthusiasm.

I do Qigong which is meditation and energy work combined in one. I think anything that couples exercise with mind is golden with regards to building both the physical and the mental (and the sprititual)!

Meditation has helped me through some times that would otherwise be unbearable, and has probably saved my physical health, too.

When a short period of relaxing and focusing on nothing but your breathing becomes a daily habit, it starts to calm you throughout the day, outside those 20 or 30 minutes. It has positive effects on your entire being...physiological as well as mental/emotional.

Every time I have tried to meditate I lose focus all the time.How do you deal with that? :confused:

For beginners, one of the best ways of maintaining focus is to either concentrate on your breathing and strive to be aware of the flow of air going in and out of your body, or think of one word and really hold on to it.

I was introduced to the practice of meditation when I was reading a creative problem solving book, in the beginning 'breathing exercises' are discussed as practical exercises.

Then I read and practiced the book 'Meditation for dummies' by Stephan Bodian. I can say the most marvelous things about what you will bring to yourself if you start practicing and understand what is all about, even if you think you know a lot.

I struggled most of my life with 'procastination episodes', mostly because 'intellectual understanding' seemed for years 'the' answer for most of my problems and conceptually I understood what had to be done to achieve my goals at the level I wanted them, though, my habits were my most stubborn enemies.

Suddenly it all melted when I understood that only the present moment exists and matters, that a drifting mind and daydreaming was causing suffering in my life and paradoxically everything started to change, until now I am slowly but steadily getting aware more often which makes concentrated and focused actions based on a good strategy, wich makes great results.

Zen meditation is what I recommend as a base practice, along with other one of your choosing, it is simply the most powerful.

If you do it,please share your results you got via meditation.
Watch these videos to learn it if you do not know how to do meditation - Learn Mediation From These Videos!

I consider doing yoga as a form of meditation. It is hard for the beginners but as you go on you will learn to relax and focus. Yoga makes my mind alert and help me focus on things that I need to accomplish.

For beginners, one of the best ways of maintaining focus is to either concentrate on your breathing and strive to be aware of the flow of air going in and out of your body, or think of one word and really hold on to it.

Paul

Great response Paulie. I'll also chime in quick.

First, thread starter, I'm totally for it. I'm a fanatic for mental optimization and meditation isn't some concept, it's a proven neuroscientific way of optimizing the way your brain operates. (that's why people have been reporting positive benefits for years)

For the person that said "I lose focus," first I'd say STOP SAYING THAT. You have to make a decision that you'll try until you start to get the hang of it.

Just decide not to quit. It took me some time to get to the point where I could quiet down my mind (the prefrontal area of the brain).

It will always take some time to make the shift from an undisciplined mind, to a disciplined mind over which you have control.

That's the whole idea. Losing focus is normal. You're training yourself to get better at NOT losing focus and being able to direct your attention easier.

Overall, not only is it incredible for mental performance, but studies are now PROVING (as opposed to showing or suggesting) that meditation can help reverse a lot of previously thought irreversible diseases and conditions.